Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 7: Weakening Pakistan eccentric to least is in core interest of India, which has all attributes for emerging as a global trusteeship on the world scenario.
This was stated by Prof Varun Sahni, former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University and Chairperson of the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, while delivering key note address at 4th Sat Paul Sahni Memorial Lecture, organized by J&K Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration, here today.
Terming Pakistan and China as most likely adversaries, which share land border with India, Prof Sahni stressed for developing nuclear deterrence vis-à-vis these two countries. “Even as nuclear capability does not make India a power, it has definitely forced China to acknowledge us as a force,” he said.
“India’s Attributes and Interests: Who are we and what do we want?” was topic of the lecture, which was attended by strategic and defence analysts, intellectuals, academicians, police officers and bureaucrats.
Prof Sahni listed 19 core attributes of India, relevant in the foreign policy for the national interest. “India as a large country, emerging power, regional power, continental power, nuclear power, developing economy, cultural civilization, democracy etc, which are relevant in conceiving our policies of external affairs,” he said.
However, he lamented, India has miserably failed to achieve the strategic choice unlike China which has virtually established its dominance in the region.
Suggesting that India should form a cooperation and act as catalyst between United States and China instead of aligning with anyone of the two, Prof Sahni said that ideological weapon and cultural power could greatly help in a successful foreign policy.
“India cinema, music and Yoga etc are globally recognized and can act as our cultural weapons while on the other hand, Chinese cultural aspect is very difficult to be accepted by other cultures,” he explained and highlighted the importance of Indian diaspora on this front.
Floating of idea of global trusteeship, Prof Sahni opined that India should take care of its responsibilities to the world, instead of thinking in terms of world power.
Earlier, Dr Ashok Bhan, chairman of IIPA Regional Branch, presented a welcome address and introduced the chief guest. He also paid tributes to late Sat Pal Sahni and recalled the later’s contribution to society in general and IIPA in particular.
Dr S S Bloeria, Vice-Chancellor of Central University Jammu, also paid tributes to Sat Pal Sahni and threw light on his multi-facet personality.
Chief Economic Advisor of J&K Government, Jalil Ahmed Khan, who presided over the function, gave the concluding remarks.
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